The mobilization order for Hachinosu was issued at 5:00 AM.
The first ship's horn sounded from the direction of the port, sharp and long, ripping the entire island awake from its slumber.
Then came the second and third sounds.
The sirens blared incessantly, like a pack of wild beasts simultaneously catching the scent of their prey.
There were hardly any idle people left at the port at this time.
As soon as the ladder was lowered, dozens of movers rushed up, their movements so fast they were almost invisible.
Food, ore, timber, medicine—boxes of supplies were unloaded from the ship and moved rapidly along handcarts and rails.
A strange excitement lingered on everyone's face. No one spoke, but their footsteps were more rapid than any war drum.
Roy stood on the high platform of the harbor, watching all of this.
"It's already running at full speed."
Stella stood behind him, her Den Den Mushi ringing incessantly, as if it would never tire.
"Supply ships from all over the New World will arrive in succession over the next three days."
Vegapunk has already put the production line for the new weapon at full capacity, and the daily production rate of Seastone Egghead is 30% higher than expected.
Where's the boat?
"All sixteen new warships in the dock have been launched, and their firepower systems and Seastone armor are undergoing final adjustments."
Tesoro personally oversaw the process, saying that departure could take place no later than five days later.
Roy nodded.
His gaze swept over the rows of warships in the harbor, their steely surfaces gleaming with a cold, bluish light in the morning glow, like a steel fleet awakening.
"Where are the cadres?"
" Bullet and the others are already warming up."
I have already told them everything that needed to be said.
"Okay." Roy turned around and walked towards the weapons factory below.
The weapons factory was sweltering, with sparks flying everywhere.
The molten iron churning in the furnace bathed the entire factory in a crimson glow, and the workers on the assembly line, shirtless, had their muscles glistening in the firelight.
Seastone Egghead slid out of the mold one by one and were neatly stacked into wooden crates. Next to them was the production line for swords and armor, where the sounds of hammering and grinding wheels mingled together, making one's eardrums buzz.
Roy walked around the factory and casually picked up a Seastone Egghead to examine it.
It is finely crafted, has a substantial weight, and meets his requirements perfectly.
"Continue." He put the Egghead back in the box and nodded to the person in charge beside him.
As they left the factory, Stella handed them another intelligence report.
"A message came back from our spies in Mary Geoise."
The Five Elders haven't shown up for a long time, and most of the members of the Holy Knights have also disappeared.
The whereabouts of several CP0 members are currently unknown; they may have already infiltrated the Giant Kingdom.
What about the navy?
" Akainu is still at headquarters, but at least four fleets led by Vice Admiral are gathering towards the New World."
Fujitora and Garp have not yet made a public appearance.
Roy sneered:
"They won't come to Elbaf. They don't even know where they're supposed to be guarding."
Meanwhile, the atmosphere within the Room of Authority of Mary Geoise had reached a breaking point.
The Five Elders were indeed not present.
Only a few high-ranking civil servants remained around the long table, their faces ashen as they watched the urgent dispatches pouring in from all over the world.
The Revolutionary Army is firing on all fronts Four Blues, the Marine Headquarters is in constant danger, the entire New World is out of contact, and Mary Geoise's high-end combat power has been almost completely depleted.
Akainu's image appeared on the communication screen Room of Authority, his face so ashen it looked like molten iron could drip from it.
" The Revolutionary Army's offensives Four Blues are no small-scale operations."
Akainu gritted his teeth and said,
"They are cooperating with Hachinosu."
The New World has spiraled out of control, and the Navy cannot simultaneously govern both the Four Blues and Mary Geoise.
I need the Five Elders...
" The Five Elders are not here," the civil official interrupted him, his voice trembling.
"Where are they?!" Akainu slammed his hand on the table.
No one answered him.
But deep within the Flower Room, all remained deathly still.
On the other side, in the Elbaf Sea.
The Thousand Sunny has been sailing in these waters for three days.
Thick fog rolled in from all directions, as thick as cotton that could be cut open, reducing visibility to less than fifty meters.
The currents were more turbulent than expected, and very little of the reefs were above water. It was only thanks to Nami's constant monitoring of the nautical chart and her Observation Haki that they narrowly avoided more than a dozen underwater reefs that could have torn the ship apart.
"What kind of place is this..." Usopp lay on the ship's railing, having already vomited three times.
Just when everyone was feeling listless from the fog and ocean currents, the fog suddenly thinned.
A few rays of sunlight pierced through the gaps in the mist, shining on the sea and turning the water into a shimmering gold.
Immediately afterwards, the sea fog was torn apart like a curtain, and the scene in front of us was like a heavy hammer, smashing directly into everyone's pupils.
Elbaf.
The coastal cliff alone is so high that you can't see the top.
The enormous waterfall crashed down from the clouds, splashing hundreds of meters into the sea, its roar louder than thunder.
The island's outline resembles a giant rising from the seabed, blotting out the sky and blocking out most of the sunlight.
"Wow... it's so big..." Nami's mouth dropped open, and she even forgot to look at the nautical chart.
Chopper was speechless; his eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
Brook's skull jaw fell to his chest, then snapped back together with a click.
Zoro looked up at the island and remained silent for a long time.
He could feel the oppressive atmosphere emanating from this island, which was even heavier than that of Wano Country and more primitive than that of Hachinosu.
Luffy stood at the bow of the Thousand Sunny, the knot of his Straw Hat fluttering wildly in the wind.
He was stunned at first, but the next second, an excessively wide smile spread across his face.
"So big--!!!"
He raised his arms and shouted towards the island, " Elbaf--!! I'm here--!!!"
The sound echoed back and forth between the cliff and the sea, startling a flock of seabirds that took flight from the cliff face.
But Sanji didn't laugh.
He had a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes half-closed, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding sea fog.
He always felt that something was moving in the fog, and in more than one direction.
"Something's getting closer," he whispered.
Luffy didn't turn around, but slowly lowered his arms.
His smile was still on his face, but a cold seriousness had crept into his eyes.
Black and red lightning Inazuma, Conqueror's Haki, began to leap from beneath his feet, crackling and spreading along the hull to the sea surface.
"Let them come," Luffy said.
Meanwhile, in an ancient room in Elbaf, a teleportation array silently lit up.
The black and red light spread out like flowing water, and figures emerged from the light, their clothes fluttering without wind, each step seeming to tread on the lifeblood of this ancient island.
The Five Elders.
They did indeed come.
At the same time, on Hachinosu.
Roy stood atop the main hall, the distant sea breeze carrying the salty scent and faint traces of gunpowder smoke.
He gripped the Den Den Mushi tightly and pressed the bottom button.
"All cadres, let's go."